NEW YORK -- Catcher Ramon Castro was activated from the disabled list. To make room on the 25-man roster, catcher Raul Casanova was designated for assignment.

"Raul did a tremendous job for us," manager Willie Randolph said of Casanova. "He got some big hits for us, had a big game up in L.A., and had a home run here in New York. I just told him how much I appreciated his effort ... and hopefully, he can clear waivers and we can keep him and he'll be back, helping us win a championship."

Casanova is hoping something different, of course.

"Hopefully, somebody can see what I did and I'll be claimed on waivers," said Casanova, a switch-hitter who hit .265 in 12 games after making the team when Castro was placed on the DL with a hamstring injury. "I know I can help any team in the big leagues -- I know that for sure. I hope everything works out fine for me and the team."

Casanova said he understands that he was only with the Mets because Castro was hurt, and said he isn't bitter about being sent out. He will miss the place, though, he said.

"I really like it here a lot," he said. "The guys, Willie, the coaching staff. That's what I'm really going to miss a lot, the guys. Because I was feeling very comfortable here, with the guys -- the team. That's the part that gets you, because you make good friends and now I don't know if I'm going to see them (again)."

Also up from Port St. Lucie and back in the clubhouse is reliever Matt Wise, who has been on the DL since April 8 (retroactive to April 2) with a bruised forearm. But Wise hasn't been activated yet. That could happen today or tomorrow, Randolph said.

How the team will make room for Wise is not clear. Outfielder Angel Pagan (shoulder) was available to play, according to GM Omar Minaya. Randolph said even if Pagan were to go on the DL, he wouldn't be keen on carrying 13 pitchers because that would leave him short on the bench, and players like Moises Alou, Luis Castillo and Carlos Delgado figure to need periodic days off.

Speaking of Delgado, he was scheduled to drop to seventh in the batting order last night against the Reds, with Alou batting sixth, before the game was called because of rain. Lefty Delgado said Randolph told him he wanted to space out his at-bats with Ryan Church, another left-hander, because the Reds have three left-handers in their bullpen.

Delgado insisted he wasn't bothered by the demotion.

"I think we had this conversation in Atlanta (when he was dropped to sixth)," Delgado said. "I said you only hit seventh -- sixth, or seventh, or fourth or fifth -- only once. Then after that, it's when your turn comes and you've just got to basically do what the situation calls for and try to get your hits and drive in whoever's on base."

Minaya said Pedro Martinez (hamstring) threw off a mound in Port St. Lucie, throwing almost 60 pitches to hitters in a live batting practice situation. Minaya was reticent as to what kind of timetable Martinez is on, but he said the idea would be to have the right-hander rest for one or two days, then see how he feels before throwing again.

A simulated game would be the next step for Martinez, and Minaya said the team would like to get the pitcher stretched out to 100 pitches before they think about having him pitch in a game.